“How was your vacation?” goes an old joke.
“I don’t know,” comes the punch line. “I don’t have my pictures back yet.”
The joke, even in the digital era, says something about the importance of visually documenting our adventures. It’s about returning to the high points – our so-called vacations. But life is a journey, and our photos are precious because they enable us to retrace our steps. In doing so, we not only deepen the memories but invoke greater meaning and an even wider perspective over time. If travel broadens our worldview, then the photographs help maintain it.